Friday, March 20, 2009

Sine qua non.

"By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:5,6).

Faith is the only way to please Him. How did Enoch obtain this witness? Three times in verse 5 the verb "to take" is used. What Enoch does to obtain this triple-taking is not mentioned. Unless it is (1) faith, (2), believing God exists, and (3) believing He rewards those who seek Him. Wait. I left something out, didn't I?

It's not just enough to believe that "He is" (a reference to God's name?). The one with faith "comes" to God. It's not just enough to believe. We must also be coming to Him, approaching Him.

And no one comes to Him unless He is drawn: "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44). There's the answer, eh?